12 primary school kids killed and 23 more hurt after bus taking children as young as five home overturns and slams into tree

Firemen struggled to pull the victims from the wreckage after it smashed into a tree.

Five were confirmed dead at the scene, while 23 children rushed to hospital where a sixth later died.

The school bus was the only vehicle involved in the accident,

which happened in Chattanooga, Tennessee, US on Monday. Police Chief Fred Fletcher said 35 schoolchildren were on the bus when it was involved in the crash.
Fletcher described the crash site as a "crime scene", and said authorities are currently investigating the cause.

“Certainly speed is being investigated very, very strongly,” he said, before confirming the potential role of alcohol in the crash was being investigated.
An eyewitness told NewsChannel9 children were seen escaping through a hatch in the roof before emergency services arrived.
Firemen spent hours working to removed the rest of the children from the wreckage.